Gruffalo 50p coin ‘set to be released next week’ (Reports)

The new coin is being launched to celebrate 20 years of Julia Donaldson’s iconic character.

Over the past few years, avid coin collectors across the UK have been left flocking to get their hands on nice, shiny new pieces.

There have been some Peter Rabbit-inspired coins, as well as an A-Z of iconic British people, musicians, foods, fictional figures and more.

Now, all eyes are turning to a brand-new offering from The Royal Mint: The Gruffalo 50p.

The new coin is being launched to celebrate 20 years of Julia Donaldson’s iconic character.

Promisingly, the coin is reported to launch next week.

The Royal Mint first announced that it would be launching the new money back in November.

Token Publishing reckon it will be available to buy from February 19.

They say: “It appears the latest 50p coin from the Royal Mint will feature the Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson’s scary but delightful monster who first appeared in 1999, and will be available from February 19.

“We aren’t sure whether this will go into circulation like the Beatrix Potter and Paddington coins or remain for collectors only (as with the Snowman just before Christmas) – we’ll keep you posted!”

The Gruffalo is a children’s book by writer and playwright Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, that tells the story of a mouse, the protagonist of the book, taking a walk in a European forest.

The book has sold over 13 million copies, has won several prizes for children’s literature, and has been developed into plays on both the West End and Broadway and even an Oscar nominated animated film.

The Gruffalo was initially published in 1999 and it is written in rhyming couplets, featuring repetitive verse with minor variance.